from harness publicists across North America

The May 15 deadline is drawing near for many stakes payments. Below are a list of notices that have been submitted to the USTA Newsroom.

Payments due in Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, PA — The Pennsylvania Sire Stakes reminds horsemen of payments that need to be postmarked by Monday, May 16 (the traditional 15th is a Sunday) in order for horses to have PA eligibility.

Yearlings – Attention out of state horsemen! It seems there are a few jurisdictions which do not require payments for yearlings, and every year there are several disappointed people that send in 2-year-old payments only to find that their freshman is ineligible because of no payment the previous year (a payment not required in their native land). Pennsylvanians seem to “have this down” by now, but we remind everybody that a Pennsylvania Sire Stake payment for yearlings is mandatory: $50 for pari-mutuels and $5 for fairs, either or both, for the May 15 payment. A copy of the horse’s registration paper should be included.

Two-Year-Olds – The May 15 tariff for baby racers is $400 pari-mutuel and $50 fairs, but is required only for horses who are going to race in the PA stakes program this year. If you do not think your horse will be a stakes contender at two, you do not have to make May 15 payments; the horse will of course be ineligible for Keystone stakes competition this year, but would be at three with the proper payment(s).

Three-year-olds – The pari-mutuel division is closed (and already in action), but horses can still maintain eligibility to the fair circuit with a $100 payment.

Forms are available at www.agriculture.state.pa.us; click on “Commissions,” “Racing Commissions,” and “Forms,” and then pick what you need. The phone number is 717.787.5539, but especially on this weekend the voicemail tends to fill quickly, so we point out other lines of communication: fax-717.787.2271, or e-mail gconnors@state.pa.us.

— Jerry Connors

Payments due in Maryland

Union Bridge, MD — The 2-year-old payments (foals of 2009) are due to the Maryland Standardbred Fund and the Maryland Sire Stakes on May 15. This payment is for 2-year-olds that will be racing in 2011.

Yearling nominations (foals of 2010) to the Maryland Standardbred Fund and the Maryland Sire Stakes are also due on May 15.

As per regulation, since May 15 falls on Sunday, a postmark of May 16, 2011 is accepted. We recommend that all payments be sent by certified mail. Please note the mailing address: P.O. Box 540, Union Bridge, MD 21791-0540.

Staking forms and regulations can be found on our website at www.msrfonline.com or you may call 410.775.0152.

— Cheri Stambaugh

Delaware Sire Stakes reminder

Dover, DE — All yearling nominations are due May 15. The fee is $40 and requires a copy of the USTA registration papers.

Yearlings must be sired by a stallion registered for the 2009 breeding season. A list is on page 20 of the “Stakes and Futurities Nomination Booklet.”

The 2-year-old sustaining payments of $200 are also due. Only 2-year-olds who made the March 15, 2011 sustaining payment are eligible to make this payment. The payment doesn’t have to be made if one is not going to race their 2-year-old in 2011.

Since May 15 falls on a Sunday, a Monday, May 16, postmark is acceptable.

Forms must be used and are available at www.desbf.com.

For more information contact the director at 302.698.4610 or e-mail Judy.Davis-Wilson@state.de.us.

— Judy Davis-Wilson

OSS yearling nomination payments due May 16

Toronto, ON — The Ontario Sires Stakes administration would like to remind everyone that May 15 is the deadline for OSS yearling nominations. However, since the 15th falls on a Sunday this year, payments postmarked by Monday, May 16, will be accepted. Payments can also be made in person at the ORC office at 10 Carlson Court, Suite 400, Toronto, ON, up until 5 p.m. on Monday, May 16.

The nomination payment is C$100 per yearling and owners are also reminded that their yearlings must be registered at the time of nomination or payments will not be accepted.

Nomination forms were mailed out in mid-April but anyone who did not receive a form for their yearling can print one by going to the OSS website or clicking here.

It is recommended that payments be sent by registered mail so the sender has proof of mailing. If you do not send payments by registered mail, please be aware that envelopes are not always postmarked the day they are dropped into a mailbox. You are advised to make certain that your envelope does get stamped by the deadline.

All checks should be made payable and mailed to: Ontario Sires Stakes, 10 Carlson Court, Suite 400, Toronto, ON M9W 6L2.

For more information please contact Karen Hauver, OSS Administration Coordinator, 519.369.3545 or e-mail records@ontariosiresstakes.com.

— Karen Hauver

WEG’s May 15 stakes payments

Toronto, ON — Woodbine Entertainment Group would like to remind all owners, horsemen and women, of the upcoming stakes closing on Monday, May 16.

There are numerous stakes nominations and sustaining payments that are due for the circuit’s major stakes events.

Sustaining payments are due for the 2011 Champlain Open & Champlain Fillies (2-year-olds).

Envelopes must be clearly post-marked no later than the said due date or payment will not be accepted. Registered mail is recommended.

For more information, click on the following link.

— Greg Gangle

May 15 deadline to nominate yearlings to NJ stakes

Trenton, NJ — Important payments are due May 15 to make and keep horses eligible to the lucrative New Jersey Sire Stakes program and other special stakes races for New Jersey-sired horses.

Nominations are due for foals of 2010 that are yearlings in 2011. All horses nominated must be registered with the USTA or Canadian Standardbred Horse Society.

For eligibility to the Sire Stakes program (Premier and Green Acres divisions), payments should be mailed to NJSS, P.O. Box 330, Trenton, NJ 08625.

NJSS Executive Director Christopher Castens said that registered mail is strongly suggested to avoid potential problems in mailing or delivery of payments. No late payments are accepted.

The fee is $50 for the NJSS Premier and Green Acres divisions if a copy of the yearling’s registration certificate accompanies the nomination. Without a copy of the certificate, the fee is $75. The Lou Babic Pace nomination fee, which is also due May 15, is an additional $25 for the open division and $15 for the filly division.

It is important to note that the yearling nomination fee is $250 if the foal being nominated is the result of the interstate transport of a registered New Jersey stallion’s semen to a mare outside the state of New Jersey, provided a copy of the certificate accompanies the fee. Without the certificate, the interstate semen transport nomination fee is $275.

— Leon Zimmerman